Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

Cousins is one of many senior quarterbacks with a very high potential to make the leap into the first three rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Whether it is his excellent intangibles or good arm strength, there's a lot to like about Cousins as a quarterback prospect. He's the all-time leader in Michigan State history for wins as a starting QB.

What teams will like about Cousins is his ability to deliver the football quickly with above average arm strength. When it comes to those short and intermediate routes, he displays good accuracy (even with pressure coming his way). At the next level, he'll need to really improve his ability to pull the trigger and trust his talent for reading defenses. He doesn't always make the right pre-snap reads and if he is shuffling around the pocket, his mechanics struggle. Being able to be patient, plant his feet and drive through his hips when delivering the football is a talent he'll need to continue to develop as a pro.

Cousins does just about everything well, but no particular talent of his really jumps out. There are a lot of second-tier quarterbacks who may push him into the later rounds, so it is vital he shows the smaller skills like scrambling and extending the play.

Probably the 5th Qb taken. I like him a lot. If he slips out of the 2nd he would be a steal in the 3rd. Would be the perfect WCO QB. Would love to see him in Cleveland where he could compete with McCoy.

Posted by:
Bubbahawk 01/18/12 03:03 PM

Prediction: 3rd Round

He could easily go in the 2nd. I like Cousins as a guy who would be a great backup QB and could perhaps be a serviceable starter right away.